A16 Rockridge Adds Cafe-Style Service

On Monday, September 29, A16 Rockridge will begin a new café-style menu offering Italian specialties, coffee, and grab-and-go items for breakfast and lunch, in addition to nightly dinner and Sunday brunch service. The café menu will be available Monday through Friday from 7am-3pm; and weekends from 9am-3pm. Perfect for a quick snack, light breakfast or lunch, guests can order at the counter and opt to sit-down or takeaway.

The menu will bring the traditional Italian coffee bar and pastry shop experience to College Avenue, making use of the restaurant’s open dining space and ample counter seating. Complimentary Wi-Fi will be available providing a perfect place to work or catch up with friends, while soaking in the buzz of the Rockridge neighborhood. For those on the run, takeaway items serve as an ideal stop on the way to BART, just a five-minute walk from the Rockridge station.

“Every trip we make to Italy is a source of inspiration and leaves us dreaming of pastries like Sfogliatelle,” says Shelley Lindgren, Co-owner and Wine Director. “We’re so excited to be able to offer these kinds of Southern Italian specialties on a daily basis, which are as close to those we fell in love with in Naples!”

Chef Rocky Maselli will offer a simplified menu for the new service to feature an assortment of sweet and savory options as well as several Italian specialties. Familiar housemade pastries from the brunch menu will be available á la carte and include a seasonal Crostata, Zeppole with strawberry jam, and Sfogliatelle with ricotta and candied orange peel. Chef Maselli will also introduce new menu items such as Scaccia, a stuffed flat bread made with a very thin rectangular layer of dough, folded on itself several times, available in three daily flavors to rotate with the seasons. Wood-fired pizzas will not be missed with a complete offering including favorites such as the lightly-fried Montanara and Rachetta, a racquet-shaped pie. Guests can also enjoy Yogurt and Housemade Muesli; a Frittata of the day packed to-go or served with a side salad; and a selection of focaccias, antipasti, salads and cookies.

In partnership with Paramo Coffee (visit www.paramocoffee.com), A16 Rockridge will offer a special brew allowing guests to sip traditional Italian espresso and cappuccinos. The beverage list will also include a selection of wines by the glass from Lindgren’s renowned list, as well as beer, juice, and housemade sodas.

A16 Rockridge is located at 5356 College Avenue in the charming Rockridge District of Oakland. The restaurant is named for the “autostrada” highway that runs from Naples to Canosa, Puglia in Southern Italy. Under the direction of Executive Chef Rocky Maselli, A16 Rockridge features fresh pasta, seafood and authentic Neapolitan pizza. Complementing the Southern Italian menu, Wine Director/Owner Shelley Lindgren offers wines that highlight the indigenous grapes from regions such as Campania, Sardinia, and Sicily. A16 Rockridge offers dinner Monday through Saturday from 5:30-10 p.m., and Sunday from 5-10 p.m. The bar serves pizza and light bar bites Monday through Thursday from 5-11 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 5 p.m.-12:00 a.m., and on Sunday from 5-11 p.m. Brunch is available every Sunday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. A16 Rockridge also offers café service offers light breakfast and lunch for a sit-down or takeaway experience every Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information or to make reservations, visit www.A16Rockridge.com.